Liquid dispenser



Dec/17, 1935. R E DSCHNER 2,024,208

v LIQUID DISPENSER 5 Filed Jan. 29,- 1934 IlIIIIIIIHUllimllllllllllllili] I Immun INVEN TOR.

4 RICHARD EDISCHNEK 32 I ATTURN'EY w Patented Dec. 1.7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 23 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for ejecting liquids from sealed containers, preferably metal containers, containing crankcase oil for automobiles.

More particularly the invention has to do with an improved means employing compressed air for draining or expelling the oil directly from the cans which are distributed by the various oil companies without it rst being drained into an auxiliary receptacle in its passage from the can to the crankcase.

For the reason that the consumer is not always sure that the oil he buys, when dispensed from quantity containers, is the commodity he desires or that the commodity bought has not been mixed with an oil of inferior quality, all large oil companies now have resorted to dispense their goods in cans usually containing a quart of oil. On this laccount measuring devices well known in the market, as for example the swing spout measuring devices, are now practically obsolete.

First of all the can containing the oil must be opened in some manner and when so opened the contents are usually transferred to another container thru which the oil must pass to the crankcase.

Aside from the belief that the customer may not be assured of a full quart when drained immediately in to the crankcase on account of the adherence of part of the oil to the sides of the can, especially in the heavier gravity oils, he is more disconcerted when he finds that there is a loss in his purchase when it has to go through a second container.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to assure the buyer when he uses the present invention that full measure will be accorded him and that his resulting satisfaction will induce him to return again.

Another object of the present invention is in the employment of air under pressure to expel the liquid in order that the usual residue remaining in the bottom portion of the can will be more completely removed and transported to the crankcase.

Still another object of the invention is to enable a workman to attend a customer more eiiiciently and expeditiously,l and also to serve aA independent steps of the operation of holding,

cutting or piercing and dispensing which were the device showing a typical oilV can supported thereby in position to have the contents expelled 15 therefrom; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the device, some parts being broken away and others shown in section to disclose underlying structure.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the inven- 20 tion comprises, in combination with a container I containing a liquid 2 to be drained or expelled therefrom, a circular base 3 provided with an annular upstanding rim flange 4 for centralizing the container I, and an upstanding handle 5 25 for manually transporting the device.

The annular flange 4, at a point preferably diametrically across from where the handle is fastened to the base, is provided with an inwardly directed ledge S, and there is riveted to said han- 30 dle at a point adjacent to said base a leaf spring 1. Said spring is of an elongated character with the tip thereof directed downwardly so that when the container is seated on the base the spring is retracted toward said handle until the crimped edge 35 portion 8 of the container passes the tip of the spring whence the spring snaps back into normal position, with the tip thereof bearing against the top edge portion of the crimp at one side of the container. As this operation is performed 40 the container will have its opposite edge portion shifted into engagement with the ledge 6. The spring 1 and the ledge 6 will then hold the container in Iixed engagement with the base 3 aforesaid. 45

Housed in said base is the compressed-air-operated can-piercing and liquid-expelling mechanism whereby the container l is quickly emptied of its contents. The base is developed into a downwardly directed cylindrical portion 9 into 50 which the air from the intake mechanism, later to be described is directed.

In the cylinder I0 is housed a piston Il, said piston being limited in its forward travel by the ledge l2. Its backward travel, under the infiuence of the spring I3 is limited by the boss I4, said boss providing clearance whereby the intake air will rst operate on the base of the piston.

The piston is pro-vided with the piercer I5 which when acted upon by compressed air, forces the point I6 thru the bottom of the container and punctures or ruptures it in a manner indicated in both figures. The piston and piercer have an air duct II leading from the cylinder to the container. This air duct is smaller than the passageway 'Ia leading into the cylinder; hence, the air pressure will build up quicker in the cylinder than in the container, thus causing the piercer to pierce the bottom wall of the container before much air is expelled into the container.

The piercer has portions of its sides cut away as indicated by numbers I8 and I9. These cut away portions are preferably made one opposite to the other. They provide for egress of the liquid from the container out thru the neck 20 and into the flexible hose 2| as air pressure builds up in the top of the container augmenting the gravity flow of the liquid therefrom.

As a means to guide properly the piercer in its forward travel and to furnish additional means for the draining of the fluid from said container, I provide a spider 22 which I nest in the top surface of the base 3. This nest or cavity is made by drilling part way into the cylindrical portion S, and it will be observed that I have provided a shelf 23 whereon to rest said spider. In order to hold the spider in place I provide an annular ring 24 which I fasten to the wall of said cavity by means of screws 25. To prevent any seepage of the liquid from oozing out between the container and the base I desirably provide an annular packing gland 26 which is provided with an inturned flange to encircle the piercer and compactly bear against the bottom Wall of the container between the outer wall of said ring and the wall of the cavity. The screws 25 hold the ring in place and the ring in turn holds the packing washer or gland in place.

The air intake mechanism 2I is connected to the cylinder IE, and the valve operating mechanism 23 therefor is extended to the handle 5 and is pivoted thereto at a point 29 so that when the handle is gripped the ngers may be caused at will to contact with the auxiliary handle 36 to operate the valve 3|.

More specifically describing the parts of the air intake mechanism we nd a conduit pipe 32 fastened tothe lower portion of the cylinder I0. This conduit leads into a goose-neck arrangement 33, said goose-neck having a threaded terminal prtion 34 whereon to attach a hose (not shown) thru which the compressed air supply from a suitable source is conducted.

In the goose-neck aforesaid I house the valve SI which, when retracted by the manual retracting of the auxiliary handle 38 and thus overcoming the resistance of the spring 36, permits the compressed air to flow from its source thru the passageway 'Ia in the conduit 32 into the cylinder I3.

If for any reason the attendant wishes to leave the device while it is expelling the contents of the container into the crankcase, I provide a holding means whereby Athe valve 3| may be retained in the operative position. This holding means comprises a push rod 3'I having a push button 38 attached thereto, which I house in a cylinder portion 39 extending outwardly from the handle 5. When it is desired to hold the auxiliary handle in the retracted position it is only necessary to push the rod 31 into engagement with A Operation The operation of the device may be briefly explained as follows: The full container I, containing the liquid to be dispensed, is rst placed on the base of the ejector in such a position that its crimped edge will engage with the overhanging ledge 6. The container is then forced downwardly so that its base will engage the base of the ejector in a iatwise manner. As the latter operation is performed the spring 'I is retracted until the base of the container is seated, whereupon the tip of the spring moves reversely into a locking engagement with the crimped edge aforestated and holds the container rmly in place.

The ange or raised edge 4 which extends circumferentially around the base of the ejector aids in centralizing the container on the ejectors base. The orice of the exible hose 2I is next placed in position to drain the liquid to whatever source desired. The auxiliary handle 30 is next retracted depressing the valve 3| and compressed air then iiows from an air line fastened to the terminal portion 34 past the valve 3I into the cylinder I0. The opening I'I permits the air to escape from the cylinder I0, but since the opening I'I is small in comparison with the passageway 7a, air pressure builds up in the cylinder I 0 immediately forcing the piston II forwardly thereby depressing the spring I3 and forcing the piercer I5 thru the bottom of the container.

The air passing thru the opening I'I rises to the top of the container and displaces the liquid causing it to flow downwardly thru the cut away portions I8 and I9 formed in the side of the piercer and thence out thru the neck 20 into the hose l2I. 'Ihe auxiliary handle 30 may be locked while the device is operating, if desired, by pushing the push rod 31 into engagement with the handle 30. The latter position is shown in the drawing.

When the auxiliary handle 3i) is released, the valve 3I is permitted to close. The air in the. cylinder I0 then escapes thru Athe opening II allowing the piston II and piercer I to retract to their normal position under the action of the spring I3.

The container is then removed from the ejector by pressing it against the spring 'I suiliciently to retract it so as to free the crimped edge from the ledge 6. The container is then tilted, pulled out of engagement with the spring and then discarded.

The scalloped openings I8 and I9 may be omitted in the piercer should it be desired to utilize the openings 4I in the spider 22 and the rents 42 in the bottom of the container I for the purpose of providing a passageway for expelling the liquid from the container into the neck 20 and thence into the hose 2|.

I claim:

l. In a device of the kind described, an annular supporting base adapted to support in a flatwise manner a sealed container containing a liquid to be ejected, handle means supported by said base, and a movable piercer mounted on said base, said handle being retractible to set in motion other means whereby the piercer is pneumatically operated.y

2. In a device of the kind described, an annular base for detachably supporting a container to be drained, a movable piercer having external liquid egress by-passes mounted on said base and adapted to be projected therethrough into the bottom wall of said container, and means mounted upon said base to pneumatically operate said piercer. A

3. In a device of the kind described, a base for detachably supporting a container to be drained, an annular iiange for centralizing said container on said base, said iiange including a ledge engageable with an edge portion of said container, a handle supported by said base, and yieldable means carried by said handle to hold said container in engagement with said ledge.

4. In a device of the kind described, a base for detachably supporting a container to bedrained, an annular ange for centralizing said container on said base, said ange including a ledge engageable with an edge portion of said container, a handle supported by said base, and yieldable means carried by said handle to hold said container in engagement with said ledge, said container being manually shiftable on said base whereby to release the edge portion of said container from said ledge.

5. In a device of the kind described, a base for detachably supporting a container to be drained, an annular flange for centralizing said container on said base, said flange including a ledge engageable with an edge portion of said container, a handle supported by said base, yieldable means carried by said handle to hold said container in engagement with said ledge, said container being manually shiitable on said base whereby to release the edge portion of said container from said ledge, a piercer mounted subjacent said base to be projected therethru, and means for projecting said piercer thru said base to rupture the bottom wall of said container.

6. In a device of the kind described, a base for detachably supporting a container to be drained, an annular flange for centralizing said container on said base, said ange including a ledge engageable with an edge portion of said container, a handle supported by said base, yieldable means carried by said handle to hold said container in engagement with said ledge, said container being manually shiftable on said base whereby to release the edge portion of said container from said ledge, a piercer mounted subjacent said base to be projected therethru, and means for projecting said piercer thru said base to rupture the bottom wall of said container, said piercer providing means whereby the liquid in said container is ejected therefrom.

7. In a device of the kind described, a base for detachably supporting a container to be drained, an annular flange for centralizing said container on said base, said ange including a ledge en gageable with an edge portion of said container, a handle supported by said base, yieldable means carried by said handle to hold said container in engagement with said ledge, said container being manually shiftable on said base whereby to release the edge portion of said container from said ledge, a piercer mounted subjacent to said base to be projected therethru, and pneumatical ly operated means for projecting said piercer thru said base to puncture the bottom wall of said container, said piercer provided with means for the entrance of compressed air whereby the liquid in said container is ejected from said container.

8. The combination with a supporting base adapted to support a sealed container containing a liquid to be ejected, of movable piercing means carried by said base and connected with a source of compressed air whereby said piercing 5 means is actuated pneumatically to pierce said container, said means being operable by part of the air which later enters said container to force the liquid from the container.

9. The combination with a supporting base adapted to support a sealed container containing a liquid to be ejected by compressed air, of movable means carried by said base and connected with a source of compressed air whereby said means is actuated pneumatically to pierce said container, said means being operable by part of the air which later enters said container to force the liquid from the container, and means for controlling the air flowing into said container.

10. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a container to be drained, means to detachably secure said container to said supporting means, a piercer to pierce said container, and means mounted upon said supporting means to pneumatically operate said piercer, said piercer being provided with means to prevent leakage therearound after the piercing operation has been performed.

11. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a container to be drained, means to detachably secure said container to said supporting means, a piercer to pierce said container while secured as aforesaid, means to pneumatically operate said piercer, and conduit means communicating with the container thru said piercer and providing access for the entry of compressed air whereby the liquid is ejected.

12. The subject matter of claim 13 and, said piercer being provided with means to prevent leakage therearound after the piercing operation has been performed.

13. In a device oi the kind described, means to detachably support a container to be drained, means to detachably secure said container to said supporting means, a piercer mounted upon said supporting means in position to puncture said container while the latter is secured as aforesaid, and means to pneumatically operate said piercer to cause it to perform the puncturing operation, said piercer having air passage means whereby, upon the performance of the puncturing operation, air is admitted from said pneumatic means to the interior of the container to eject the contents thereof.

14. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a container to be drained, means to detachably secure said container to said supporting means, a puncturing device mounted upon said supporting means, and means to operate said device to puncture said container, said puncturing device being provided with means affording both an air inlet and a liquid outlet for said container.

15. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a container to be drained. means to detachablysecure said container to said supporting means, a puncturing device mounted upon said supporting means, means to pneumatically operate said device to puncture said container, and means to restore said device to its normal position.

16. In a device of the kind described, can puncturing means comprising a reciprocating piercer having an internal air passage and external liquid passages, the air passage admitting compressed air whereby the contents of the can are expelled thru the liquid passages, and means associated With said device whereby said piercer is pneumatically operated.

17. In a device of the kind described, can puncturing means comprising, a piercer having liquid passages and an air conduit extending therethru, and piston means rigidly attached to the piercer and mounted in a cylinder and operated by a source of compressed air.

18. In a device of the kind described, can puncturing means comprising a piercer having both liquid passages and an air conduit extending therethru, and piston means rigidly attached to the piercer and mounted in a cylinder and operated by a source of compressed air, said piston means having an air conduit communicating with the air conduit of the piercer.

19. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a sealed container containing a liquid to be drained, means to detachably secure said container to said supporting means, means mounted upon said supporting means in position to puncture said container while the latter is secured as aforesaid, and means to pneuinatically operate said puncturing means.

20. In combination with a liquid container support, can puncturing means comprising a movable piercer having through it both liquid passages and an air conduit, and means to pneumatically operate said piercer.

21. In a device of the kind described, means to detachably support a sealed container con- 5 taining a liquid to be drained, a puncturing device including both liquid and air passages mounted upon said supporting means, and pneumatic means to operate said puncturing device to puncture said container and expel the contents thereof.

22. In combination with a supporting base for supporting a sealed container containing a liquid to be ejected; of movably mounted means mounted on said base pneumatically operated for puncturing said container, said means including passage Ways, one of Which is for the entrance of compressed air for imposing pressure on the liquid to expel it.

23. In combination with a support for sustaining a sealed container containing a substance to be discharged, of movably mounted means mounted on said support pneumatically operated for puncturing said container, there being a passageway thru said means connected With a source of compressed air for imposing pressure on the substance to expel it.

RICHARD E. DESCHNER. 

